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Real Life Minimalists: Apple

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Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

Today, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Apple. In their quest for simplicity, she and her husband have made some big changes in their lives. Read her story, and I think you’ll be inspired!

Apple writes:

I am a born minimalist. As a child I loved tidying my room, my favourite activity was packing my backpack for holidays and then living out of my bag. I remember feeling overwhelmed after receiving more than one present for Christmas or the frustration of having to keep unused clothes, superfluous room decorations, bulky pieces of furniture in my room.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Kimberlie Dame

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Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

This week, we have an inspirational story from Kimberlie Dame. She tells us how a long wilderness trek completely transformed her perspective on material things (and more!). Check out her blog to read more about her adventures.

Kimberlie writes:

Setting off on an 819 mile wilderness trek can teach you a lot about minimalism. In the obvious, everything needed for survival must be able to be carried upon your back. There is room for items of luxury, but you must be endeared enough to them to be willing to pay in grunt-sweat for them.… {Read more}

Minimalism in the Family

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Not too long ago, I received an email from a reader inquiring about the demographics of minimalists. She was wondering if the urge to purge had any correlation with being the oldest, youngest, middle, or only child.

That’s a great question, but I’m unaware of any polls or studies that have been done on the subject. I’m an oldest child myself. However, there’s someone in my family even more minimalist than me: my younger brother.

Believe it or not, my brother’s lifestyle makes mine look maximalist. He’s single, completely carefree, and has mastered the art of location-independence while working a professional job (he’s a self-employed engineer, and his clients are scattered all over the world).… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalist Update: Heather in Texas

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Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

Today, we have a first here in the Real Life Minimalist series: an update from a former participant! We originally heard from Heather over a year ago, and now she’s checking back in to tell us the progress she’s made on her minimalist journey.

Heather writes:

Where we are now? (and you asked for a minimalist family)

We have decided to downsize even more and move into a one bedroom apartment.… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Heena Modi

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Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

This week, I’m happy to introduce you to Heena Modi. Heena tells us the various ways she’s introduced minimalism into her life, even when it’s meant going against cultural traditions and norms. Be sure to check out her blog to learn more!

Heena writes:

My name’s Heena Modi. I wasn’t a minimalist in many ways, yet in other areas it came naturally. Over the last few years I’ve been making a conscious effort to apply minimalism to all parts of my life.… {Read more}

Empty, White, and Beautiful

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For the first time in months, I feel like I’m back in my element. Let me explain…

My husband and I have been drifting since February—living in a succession of hotels and sublets—because we’re reluctant to commit to long-term housing. It’s an interesting, and liberating, way to live; the only downside is that most short-term housing is furnished, leaving you with little control over your visual environment.

One thing I’ve learned from this experience: my surroundings have a big psychological effect on me.

My last two “homes” both had brightly-colored walls, plenty of pictures and décor, and lots and lots and lots of furniture.… {Read more}

A Year Ago on miss minimalist

Nothing to Steal: My husband and I travel a lot, and people sometimes ask us if we worry about our apartment while we’re gone. Our answer: not particularly. The reason: we have nothing to steal. Sure, we have stuff—clothing, kitchenware, books, and a few pieces of furniture. However, I can’t imagine anyone wanting any of it. And if they need it so badly that they have to steal it, they probably need it more than we do. In fact, if it weren’t for personal safety issues (or having to evict a squatter that moves in in our absence), we could just as well leave the door unlocked…{read more}

Minimalist Architecture – Helsinki and Tallinn: When my husband and I travel, we love to walk the streets of foreign cities and admire the architecture.… {Read more}

Dealing with OPC (Other People’s Clutter)

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I often receive emails from people who want to pare down, but are frustrated with their partner’s/children’s/parent’s/family’s reluctance to get on board. They feel that no matter how much of their own stuff they purge, they’ll always be tripping over, shoving aside, or otherwise dealing with someone else’s clutter.

I have to admit, that’s a tough situation. Unfortunately, begging, pleading, evangelizing, or threatening can have the opposite effect—and result in making them more determined to hang on to their stuff.

Don’t despair! Your words may fall on deaf ears, but there’s a few things you can do to (gently) prod those clutterbugs in the right direction:

1.… {Read more}

My Guest Post at BootsnAll

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that I’ve written a guest post over at BootsnAll, the fabulous independent traveler site:

No Extra Baggage: How Traveling Lightly Changed My Life

The post bridges my two favorite topics: minimalism and travel. I hope you’ll check it out, and leave a comment on it if you’re so inclined. If enough people like it, perhaps they’ll invite me back again. :)

If you’re planning a getaway this summer (or just enjoy some armchair traveling), I encourage you to browse through the site while you’re there. I have to warn you, though: your feet might start itching to hit the road!… {Read more}

Real Life Minimalists: Michele

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Every Monday I post Real Life Minimalists, a profile of one of my readers in their own words. If you’d like to participate, click here for details.

This week, it’s my pleasure to feature Michele. She shares her minimalist lifestyle with us in wonderful detail, and has even included some lovely photos of her living space!

Michele writes:

The story I have in my head is that my mom asked me to clean up my room when I was very young, and I wanted a way to never have to hear that again! I started to clear everything out of my room, and loved sitting in a totally empty closet.… {Read more}